File No. 654.119/239

The Minister in Switzerland ( Stovall) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

3273. Desire to express great appreciation your 1846, May 3, 6 p.m. Cables of this sort will enable us to exert important influence on Swiss opinion. I not only issued a communiqué based on your cable, but also presented memorandum embodying paraphrase of this telegram successively to President Calonder, Schulthess, and De Coppet of Federal Council. President stated he was deeply touched by this new evidence of America’s good will of which he had never been in doubt. He added that America was only country on which Swiss could rely at the present time and that without America they would be lost.

All three above mentioned felt that in accordance with German declarations of which Sulzer has informed Department, risk to food supply vessels for Switzerland was theoretical rather than actual and will diminish with each week. They urge vessels available be loaded with wheat and despatched as soon as possible.

French Chargé d’Affaires informs me, and I subsequently discussed subject with President, that French Government has agreed to furnish for Swiss consumption 85,000 tons of coal monthly beginning immediately, Switzerland to find transportation. President stated and Schulthess, when questioned point blank, agreed, that French proposal would enable Switzerland to offer vigorous resistance to [Page 1621] German pressure. Calonder added that situation was greatly relieved.

Stovall